Menomonee Falls to Wabeno is 177.3 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 41 and State Highway 32, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive mostly stays within Wisconsin, taking you from the Midwest's more populated areas toward its northern forests. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of your journey, making it a straightforward trip. It's a route well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.6 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
86.7 mi
1h 33m
State Highway 32
31.3 mi
46m
State Highway 47
20.6 mi
30m
County Road R
12.3 mi
17m
County Road A
5.9 mi
10m
Branch Street
5.3 mi
7m
State Highway 117
4.7 mi
8m
North Lynndale Drive
3.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 86.7 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Menomonee Falls, WI and Wabeno, WI.
1
Start on WI 175
21 ft·4 sec·Appleton Avenue
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Turn left onto Pilgrim Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·Pilgrim Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Appleton, West Bend
5
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
7.2 mi·7 min·I 41; US 41; US 45
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 41; US 41
Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, AppletonUse the slight left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 139Toward CTH 00, WIS 15: New LondonUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
233 ft·7 sec
Toward CTH 00
9
Turn straight onto CTH OO
0.9 mi·1 min·West Northland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto CTH A
2.0 mi·3 min·North Lynndale Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto CTH A
117 ft·2 sec·North Lynndale Drive
12
Continue on CTH A
1.0 mi·1 min·North Lynndale Drive
13
Continue on CTH A
5.9 mi·10 min·County Road A
14
At end of road, turn left onto WI 47; CTH A
3.5 mi·4 min·State Highway 47
15
Continue on WI 47
1.1 mi·1 min·South Main Street
16
Continue on WI 47
17 mi·25 min·State Highway 47
17
Continue on WI 117
0.8 mi·2 min·South Cecil Street
18
Continue on WI 117
4.7 mi·8 min·State Highway 117
19
Turn right onto WI 22
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 22
20
Turn left onto CTH H; CTH R
12 mi·17 min·County Road R
21
At end of road, turn right onto CTH M; CTH R
1.6 mi·2 min·County Road M
22
Turn left onto CTH R
0.4 mi·32 sec·Red Banks Road
23
Turn left onto WI 32
31 mi·46 min·State Highway 32
24
Continue on WI 32
5.3 mi·7 min·Branch Street
25
Turn left onto Cavour Avenue
113 ft·4 sec·Cavour Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Cavour Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 53m estimated duration, leaving Menomonee Falls in the morning allows you to reach Wabeno with plenty of daylight remaining. The longest stretch without a major road change is 86.7 miles on I 41, so plan a fuel stop before you embark on that segment if your tank is low. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $28, this trip is budget-friendly. Take advantage of the flexibility this shorter, direct route offers; you can easily adjust your departure time or add an impromptu stop if something catches your eye.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.6 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.6 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wabeno, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Menomonee Falls, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Menomonee Falls, WI
This is one driving day of about 177.3 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Menomonee Falls, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 86.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 138.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Appleton, West Bend
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 41 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Ap...
8
8.6 mi into trip|~11m in|I 41; US 41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
8
88 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward CTH 00, WIS 15: New London
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 139
Toward CTH 00, WIS 15: New London
6
88.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CTH 00
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CTH 00
5
138.7 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|CTH M; CTH R / County Road M
At end of road, turn right onto CTH M; CTH R / County Road M
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.72 one way
$55.44 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.43
$60.87
premium
$4.89
$34.12
$68.24
diesel
$5.61
$39.15
$78.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.2
0
$18.62
$8.51
Efficient EV
44.3
0
$15.51
$7.09
EV Truck/SUV
70.9
0
$24.82
$11.35
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Menomonee Falls, WI
Morning
in Menomonee Falls on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Sunny
W 15 to 20 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 6:43AM CDT until April 20 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 6:40AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Wabeno, WI
Morning
in Wabeno on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 81% of it on faster roads like I 41. You'll encounter an 86.7-mile stretch on I 41, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the drive. As you transition to State Highway 32 and then State Highway 47, expect a shift to more rural and potentially winding two-lane roads. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway cruising and a more scenic, local road feel as you get closer to Wabeno.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.7 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and State Highway 32. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 177.3 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Menomonee Falls, WI and Wabeno, WI, road signs point toward Cth 00 and Wis 15: New London.
Cth 00
88 mi in|~1h 36m
Wis 15: New London
88 mi in|~1h 36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 177.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.7 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Wabeno, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
